Bender named Colo. Chief Justice

Bender succeeds Mary Mullarkey, who announced her retirement in June. Mullarkey, a justice since 1987 and chief justice since 1998, is to retire from the court on Nov. 30.

Bender has been on the state high court since 1997. He was appointed by former Gov. Roy Romer, a Democrat.

Bender previously was in private practice from 1979 to 1997, and served as a public defender for Denver, Jefferson County and the state of Colorado. He also previously worked for the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law.

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